Hi all, I specifically joined this site to see if I can get some suggestions for my 5 year old. He turned 5 last month and started reception in September. He?s always been a bit of a hothead and always had tantrums. Trouble is, he?s not coping with school very well (we had similar troubles with pre-school at the end of term when tired). A few weeks holiday brings peace back in his little mind but going to school causes him to have angry outbursts/tantrums, triggered by nothing. He?ll throw (anything including furniture) and if you try and come near he?ll hit and punch). It is like a night terror (which he has too once in while). Only once he?s calmed down, he gets sad as he realises the mess he made and the exhaustion he caused (he himselfs gets muscle pains afterwards from the force of screaming and throwing). He sometimes wakes up cross or sad then goes to school and after school it starts again. At school he is his usual angelic self. It seems he?s not coping emotionally, although he?s super bright and doing very well with reading and numbers. But we can hardly keep him home! We?ve tried star charts (helps a bit in holidays), confiscating toys, talking, talking, leaving him to calm down by himself in his bedroom but nothing seems to work. It is very upsetting for the whole family (he has an older brother) and himself. Would love suggestions before I end up going to the gp to ask for a therapist....
Thanks, from an exhausted mum.